Mom left four kids at home while she went to Germany

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     Four Iowa children found themselves in a real-life Home Alone scenario last week when their mother left them to their own devices to take an 11-day trip to Germany.   Police in Johnston, Iowa conducted a welfare check on Erin Lee Macke's house on September 21 after receiving a tip that her kids - 12-year-old twins (a boy and a girl), a seven-year-old girl and a six-year-old girl - were left alone.  They found that not only had the children been left alone, but that they had been left alone with a gun out in the open. According to the criminal complaint, Macke left an unloaded Glock 9MM handgun on top of her dresser, next to two magazines - one fully loaded and one partially loaded. The children

It's unclear why Macke visited Germany, but her photos suggest that her trip was purely recreational. She's seen above with a girl friend outside of the Walhalla Memorial in Bavaria

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  The end of September is a popular time to visit Germany, since it's when Oktoberfest takes place. It's unclear if Macke planned to attend the beer festival, but it's likely since she was traveling around Bavaria and Oktoberfest takes place in the Bavarian capital of Munich. Above, a picture that Macke took of a field of hops - an important ingredient in beer 

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     Macke took a picture of her meet of bratwurst during her first day in Germany 

The pictures show they visited the Walhalla Memorial and Regensburg Cathedral, ate bratwurst and saw fields of hops - an important ingredient in beer. 

In one photo, Macke poses next to the Danube River, throwing her hands up in the air and smiling. That picture was posted on Tuesday, five days after police found her abandoned children.  

Iowa Department of Human Services took custody of her children, and they have since been placed with extended family members. The two eldest children are with unspecified family members while the two younger children are with their father. 

Public records indicate that Macke filed for divorce from her ex, Matthew, in 2013.  

Macke is being held in lieu of $9,000 bail at the Polk County Jail.

A judge ordered Macke not to contact her children. She is due back in court on October 9. 

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    In May, Macke competed in a bikini competition, according to a post on her Instagram

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Above, another picture of Macke from the competition, posing with her eldest daughter

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In court on Thursday, Macke was ordered not to have contact with her children

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Macke pictured above with her twoolest children, 12-year-old twins, above

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   Macke pictured above with her two youngest daughters above